Williamsburg City employees to receive premium pay before holiday

Employees of the City of Williamsburg should be able to expect some extra money in their pocket for Christmas this year following a decision by the Williamsburg City Council.

The council doesn’t traditionally meet in December, though all members were present Monday night to vote on a resolution to provide premium pay to essential city workers who were employed between July 1, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2022.

According to the resolution, full-time employees who performed at least 97 hours of essential work during that period will receive a one-time payment of $1,250 and part-time employees who performed at least 49 hours of essential work during that period will receive a one-time payment of $625. Additionally, Mayor Roddy Harrison said that any employees who only worked during a portion of that time by either leaving or gaining city employment will receive a prorated amount.

However, only employees who had regular in-person interactions with the public and their coworkers during that period are eligible. Any employees who performed via telework will not receive the payments.

Those stipulations are due to the monies being used to provide the premium pay, which is coming from federal funds the city received due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The council voted unanimously to approve the resolution, which becomes effective immediately.

“Let me say ‘Thank you,’ guys,” Harrison said to council members following the vote. “I’m sure I’m talking for all the employees as well. Especially with inflation hitting hard, I think this will be a welcome [relief]. And it may be the last chance we ever have of doing something like this this year, but at least we can do something for them. Hopefully, maybe we can get to the budget and get to a pay raise or something, but until then, this should help quite a bit.”

Employees who are eligible for the payments will receive them before Christmas, according to Harrison.

A similar resolution was passed by the council in July, which provided premium pay to a number of city employees for their work during the pandemic.